| It used to be that people would care only about what | | | | protein and other nutrients such as Vitamin E and |
| they ate when they suddenly felt something physically | | | | B-complex, iron, magnesium and zinc and also |
| wrong, or got chronically weak or ill. Today this isn't the | | | | omega-3 fatty acids from some fish. Lastly, at the |
| case and people tend to pay more attention now to | | | | very top of the pyramid are oils the sound of which |
| food nutrition facts. | | | | word most may usually wince but which are really |
| Each person is different in his or her nutritional | | | | essential as well-as long as they are low in saturated |
| requirement, depending on gender, age, level of activity, | | | | fats. |
| and other factors. It was through the examination of | | | | Modern man has revolutionized the way we see and |
| the nutrients and their amounts necessary for one's | | | | ingest different types of foods. We now know what |
| healthy diet that the first system of food nutrition facts | | | | nutrients can be digested from a single serving of |
| was developed, and they took the form of what we | | | | chicken breast or a cup of broccoli or a can of tuna |
| now know as the food pyramid. Divided into six | | | | flakes. If you're a bodybuilder and you wanted more |
| different groups of food, the food pyramid serves as | | | | protein in your diet, you can easily walk along the aisle |
| a general guideline for everyone in what to consume. | | | | of canned meats in your local grocery store and read |
| At the base of the pyramid is the grain group which | | | | each item's label. What their ingredients are, what they |
| provides many nutrients such as B vitamins, minerals, | | | | do not contain which may have otherwise proved |
| and dietary fiber. Whole grains are what you must look | | | | harmful to you, what nutrient was specially added, and |
| for to make sure you get the most out of this group. | | | | most importantly, how much calories they supply and |
| These include brown rice, grain flour, oatmeal, whole | | | | how much of their nutrients actually provide for your |
| oats, whole rye, whole-grain corn, whole wheat or wild | | | | recommended daily allowance (RDA)-all those pieces |
| rice. Atop the grain group are the vegetables and fruits | | | | of information and more are on the can and package |
| groups. No need to explain why you need them; surely | | | | labels we sometimes just take for granted, crumple, |
| you've heard one too many times how you're | | | | and throw away. |
| supposed to stock up on these two foods for better | | | | It is easy to get lost in today's society of gym goers, |
| nourishment. For fruits it would be ideal to have them | | | | calorie counters, and weight watchers. But you can |
| fresh and in season, but frozen, canned, and dried | | | | arm yourself with knowledge! Whoever said that |
| varieties are still healthy for you. The dairy group | | | | awareness on such a topic as your health is bad? |
| comes next, for the maintenance of healthy bones | | | | Learning about food nutrition facts in conjunction with |
| and the prevention of osteoporosis, from which three | | | | having at least basic information on how to read food |
| servings daily must be taken. Further above the | | | | labels is just what you need to turn yourself into a |
| pyramid is the meat, poultry and fish group rich in | | | | careful food consumer! |